Convertible sled.



R. E. WHITMAN.

COVERTIBLE SLED.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22, 1914.

1,152,774. Patented Sept. 7,1915.

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[of the tongue and the link for operating the human s'rarns rnfrnur orFioE.

ROLAND E. WHITMAN, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 WILLIAM SLATTERY, 0F STURGIS, MICHIGAN.

CONVERTIBLE SLED.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RoLANn E. WHIT AN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgis, in. the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented certain ond, to provide improved Wheel supports and improved bracing means for the same.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will'definitely appear from' the fdetailed description to, follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention -by the devices and means describedin'the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this sp'ecificatiomin whichz,

F'gure I is a view in side elevation of a structure embodying my invention, showing the wheel supports in erected position. Fig. II isa fragmentary view in side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. I, showing the wheels in the inoperative position. Fig. III is an enlarged detail fragmentarysectional view on a line corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. I, showing in detail one of the wheel supports and the' bracing means therefor. Fig. IV is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4- 1 of Fig, III, showing the stop and bracing means for the wheel supports. Fig. V is a fragmentary top plan view, showing the end wheel supports and the means for locking the same in operative or inoperative position. Fig. VI is afragmentary detail plan view of a modified form of the tongue.

FigLVII is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the modification shown in Fig.'VI.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrowsat the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered .parts of the drawing, the sled comprises the bottom 2 and the sides 1, the bottom 2 being supported on the false bottom, 6 and secured thereto by bolts 7. The false bottom 6 is supported a by the cross bars 5, 5 which are connected by the braces 1 with the runners 8. The wheels 8 are carried by the front and rear axles 9, 9 which are journaled in the lower ends of links 11, 11. Angle brackets 12, 12 are riveted to the false bottom 6 by the rivets 12, 12 and the upper ends of the links 11 are pivoted to the angle brackets 12 at 13, as

clearly shown in. Fig. III. The brackets 12' carry stop pins 1 1 and notches 14 are pro- 'vided in the upper ends of the links 11 to cooperate with the stop pins 14:. The engagement of the notchwith the stop pin serves tolimit the rearward movement of the link 11 thusaiding to brace and hold the wheel supports with the wheels in operativeposition. The axles 9 are also journaled in the ends of bars 10, 1O connecting the front and rear axles. At the forward end of thestructure links 15 are mounted on the front axle, the forward ends of said links being bent inwardly toward each other and bolted to the link 15 which extends forwardly and upwardly as shown in Figs. I and At the upper end of this actuating link the handle 16 is provided and a cross pin 17 extends laterallv on each side of the link 15, as shown in Fig. V.

In order to draw the sled, a tongue 18 is provided formed of a metal bar attached at its ends to the front runner structure, bent to'the proper shape and extending upwardly and forwardly as shown in Figs. I, II and V. For a portion of its length the parts of the tongue lie parallel to each other and are connectedby the rivets 21. At the end of the tongue a handle 19 is formed and two pair of notches 20, 20 are cut in the. tongue, as shown in Figs. I and II, and are adapted to receive the pin 17 extending from the link 15, the end of which extends between the parts of the tongue adiacent the handle.

In Figs. 'VIand VII, I have shown a modification in which the tongue is of wood Patented Sept. 7,1915. 1 I

having a handle at the end thereof. A slot and notches are cut in the upper end of the tongue 22 and a face plate 24 in which two .operation of the structure should be very readily understood. .In Fig. II: the parts are shown in the position which they occupy when the sled is being used as a sled and the wheels are in the inoperative position. In this position the link 15 is drawn forwardly so that the cross pin 17 engages the uppermost pair of notches on'the tongue 18. By this means the links 11 and 10 are drawn forward so that the wheels are raised above the runners 3 and the weight of the structure and the occupant rests upon these runners. .l/Vhen it is desired to use the wheels, the link 15 is forced rearwardly until the pin 17 engages in the lowermost pair of notches 20 and inthis position the Wheels are forced and held downwardly below the runners 8 so that the weight of the structure and occupant is carriedby the" wheels In-this position, the links 11 are forced rearwardly until the stop pins 14 engage the notches 14 in the links. By this means the wheel supports are securely braced when the wheels are in their operative position. The weight of the structureand the occupant tends to force the links 11 toward the stop pins 14 and this weight aids in looking the wheels in the operative position.

j In'the modified form of my construction, a solid tongue is' provided for the sled and the end of the link 15 is broughtup through a'slot formed inthis tongue, so that the link 15 can be moved to engage the cross pin 26in either pair of notches 25.

It will be seen that I have provided a very simple and compact structure in which the change from a wheeled structure to a sled can be very. quickly and readilymade without stooping over, inasmuch as the actuatlng llnk for actuatlng the wheel supports terminates, adjacent the handle of the tongue for drawing-the sled. When the user comes 7 to a spot where it is desirable to use the wheels all that'needs to be done is to lift the-end'of link 15 by the handle 16 so as to remove the pin 17 from the uppermost pair of notches 20 and to force the link 15 backward until the, pin 17 engages the lowermost pair of notches 20. The links 11 are carried slightly past the perpendicular and the Weight of the sled and of the ootends to force the upper end i of the is to be preferred and therefore I desire to claim the same specifically, as well as broadly, as indicated by my appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a body, runners supporting said body, wheel supporting links pivotally mounted on said body, axles journaled in the lower ends of said links, wheels carried by said axles, means connecting the front and rear axles together, a tongue secured to said runner structure, a link connected to said wheel supporting links to swing the same on their pivots and extend ing upwardly and forwardly adjacent the tongue, whereby said structure may be drawn either by said tongue orsaid link and detent means on'said tongue for holding said link in adjustedposition, all coacting substantially as described for the purpose specifiec.

. 2. In a structure of the class described, the combinationofa body, runners supporting said body, angle brackets secured to said body and having downwardly turned ends, laterally extending stop pinscarried by said ends, wheel supporting links pivoted to the downwardly turned ends of said brackets and provided with'notches adapted to engage said stop pins, axles journaled in the'lower ends of said links, wheels carried by said axles, means connecting the front and rear axles together, and actuating means for swinging said wheel supportinglinks on their pivots, all coacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

3. In a'structure of the class described,the combination of a body, runners supporting said body, wheels supporting links pivoted on said body, axles journaled in thelower ends of said links, wheels carried by said axles, a forwardly projecting tongue secured to the front of said runner structure and provided with a handle at its forward end and a slot adjacent said handle,.a link connected to said wheel supporting links'to swing the same on their pivots and extending upwardly and forwardly, the upper end thereof being disposed in said slot in said my hand and seal in the presence of two tongue and IElpeing provjldeid with a lillalldhe, Witnesses. said tongue eing rovi e Wit notc es a e jacent the slot ai id a laterally projecting ROLAND WHITMAN 5 pin carried by the upper end of said link WVitnesses:

and adapted to engage in said notches ROY H. HAGERMAN,

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set AGNES STRAUB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. i 

